EP1641514A2 - Systeme et procede d'administration de radiotherapie interstitielle a l'aide de tubes pour grains a elements d'ecartement terminaux personnalises - Google Patents

Systeme et procede d'administration de radiotherapie interstitielle a l'aide de tubes pour grains a elements d'ecartement terminaux personnalises

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Publication number
EP1641514A2
EP1641514A2 EP04751898A EP04751898A EP1641514A2 EP 1641514 A2 EP1641514 A2 EP 1641514A2 EP 04751898 A EP04751898 A EP 04751898A EP 04751898 A EP04751898 A EP 04751898A EP 1641514 A2 EP1641514 A2 EP 1641514A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seeds
strand
strands
treatment
tissue
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04751898A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Richard A. Terwilliger
Gary A. Lamoureux
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IdeaMatrix Inc
Worldwide Medical Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
IdeaMatrix Inc
Worldwide Medical Technologies LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IdeaMatrix Inc, Worldwide Medical Technologies LLC filed Critical IdeaMatrix Inc
Publication of EP1641514A2 publication Critical patent/EP1641514A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M37/00—Other apparatus for introducing media into the body; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin
    • A61M37/0069—Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1001—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
    • A61N5/1027—Interstitial radiation therapy
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/34—Trocars; Puncturing needles
    • A61B17/3468—Trocars; Puncturing needles for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/34—Trocars; Puncturing needles
    • A61B17/3403—Needle locating or guiding means
    • A61B2017/3405—Needle locating or guiding means using mechanical guide means
    • A61B2017/3407—Needle locating or guiding means using mechanical guide means including a base for support on the body
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/34—Trocars; Puncturing needles
    • A61B17/3403—Needle locating or guiding means
    • A61B2017/3405—Needle locating or guiding means using mechanical guide means
    • A61B2017/3411—Needle locating or guiding means using mechanical guide means with a plurality of holes, e.g. holes in matrix arrangement
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1001—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
    • A61N5/1007—Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
    • A61N2005/1012—Templates or grids for guiding the introduction of sources
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
    • A61N5/1001—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
    • A61N2005/1019—Sources therefor
    • A61N2005/1023—Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to systems and methods for delivering a plurality of radioactive sources to a treatment site.
  • one method for treating tumors is to permanently place small, radioactive seeds into the tumor site. This method is currently accomplished by one of the following two procedures: (a) loose seeds are implanted in the target tissue, and/or (b) seeds are contained within a woven or braided absorbable carrier such as braided suture material and implanted in the target tissue.
  • the loose seeds are dependent on the tissue itself to hold each individual seed in place during treatment, and the woven or braided sutures do not assist in the placement of the seeds relative to the target tissue.
  • brachytherapy t.e therapy relating to treating malignant tumors for handling such radioactive seeds).
  • hollow metal needles are inserted into the tumor and the seeds are thereafter inserted into the needles, while the needles are being retracted to deposit the seeds in the tumor.
  • Such devices are shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,402,308, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the most commonly used instruments are the Henschke and Mick devices.
  • the use of such devices has distinct disadvantages.
  • the overall length of such devices is over 20 inches and such devices have significant weight making them difficult to manipulate.
  • Another disadvantage of the above technique is that the seeds are deposited in a track made by the needle. When the needle is withdrawn, there is a tendency for the seeds to migrate in that track resulting in a poor distribution of the seeds.
  • One preferred method of introducing seeds into the tumor site is using a pre-manufactured elongated assembly or implant that contains seeds spaced at 1 cm increments. This assembly is capable of being loaded into an introducer needle just prior to the procedure. What is desired in using an elongated assembly of seeds and spacers is the ability to insert such an assembly into a tumor site to provide controlled and precise placement of the radioactive seeds.
  • assemblies with bio-absorbable materials and spaced radioactive seeds are known for use as interstitial implants, such assemblies are not entirely satisfactory.
  • the elongated implant is made using a bio-absorbable material consisting of an Ethicon Nicryl.RTM. This material is commonly known as PGA.
  • Radioactive seeds and teflon spacers are inserted into the material.
  • the carrier is heated causing contraction of the carrier material and resulting in a rigid column of seeds and spacers.
  • This technique was reported in "Ultrasonically Guided Transperineal Seed Implantation of the Prostate: Modification of the Technique and Qualitative Assessment of Implants" by Nan't Riet, et al., International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 555-558, 1992 which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Such rigid implants have many drawbacks, including not having the ability to flex with the tissue over the time that the bio-absorbable material dissolves.
  • a projection in one capsule is engageable with a recess in an adjacent capsule such that the desired number of seeds can be plugged together to fonn a column of rigid, bio-absorbable and elongated material.
  • This implant is not entirely satisfactory inasmuch as it is time consuming and inefficient to carry out the manipulative steps of assembling such a strand of elongated material. Further, the implant is quite rigid as it is inserted into a patient without the use of an introduction needle, as the implant itself acts as a rigid needle that is undesirably left in place. [0022] In another embodiment disclosed in the above patent, a rigid implant containing radioactive segments, with break points, is inserted into the tumor.
  • the implant is made of a bio-absorbable polymer that is rigid enough to be driven into the tumor without deflection and without the use of a separate hollow needle. When the proper depth is reached with the rigid polymer needle, the remaining, uninserted portion of the needle is broken off.
  • This embodiment has the disadvantage of the above embodiment, in that being too rigid, the implant does not follow the tumor as it shrinks back to its normal size.
  • This string of seeds is delivered into the tumor site placed within a hollow needle.
  • the string of suture material must be substantially smaller in diameter than the seeds themselves.
  • the resulting diameter of the suture makes the suture axially weak and the suture can fold up between the seeds within the needle lumen as pressure is applied on the proximal end of the strand within the needle.
  • the difference in diameter between the seed and the thin suture material makes the assembly susceptible to collapse from axial force applied on the proximal end, resulting in jamming of the assembly within the needle lumen and/or the assembly not maintaining the proper desired spacing between radioactive seeds as the assembly is expelled into the treatment site.
  • One relevant reference discloses modification of the needle structure to include a reloadable cartridge.
  • the needle is inserted and as a cartridge of seeds is emptied, the plunger of the device is withdrawn and a new cartridge containing radioactive seeds is loaded into the syringe (Moore, U.S. Patent No. 4,086,914, issued May 2, 1978).
  • Another reference offers a device for implanting individual seeds in a planar dispensing device with multiple needles to ensure accurate placement of the seeds relative to one another and the treatment site (Kirsch, U.S. Patent No. 4,167,179, issued September 11 1979).
  • seeds are held in a woven or braided bio-absorbable carrier such as a braided suture.
  • the carrier with the seeds laced therein is then secured in place to form a suitable implant.
  • This braided assembly exhibits many drawbacks, such as when the braided assembly is placed into the tumor.
  • the needle that carries the braided assembly must be blocked at the distal end to prevent body fluids from entering the lumen. If body fluid reaches the braided assembly while the assembly is still in the lumen of the needle, the braided assembly can swell and jam in the lumen. Because the assembly is made of a braided tubular material, it is difficult to push the assembly out of the needle.
  • the present invention cures and addresses the disadvantages exhibited in the prior art devices and implants.
  • What is desired is to provide a bio-absorbable carrier material having seeds disposed within the material, with the seeds being accurately spaced a predetermined distance from one another, and with the seeds repeatably maintaining that spacing, even after being introduced into the body.
  • an elongated member with seeds be sufficiently rigid axially to allow expulsion of the member while maintaining the spacing between seeds, and that the member be flexible and pliable enough to move with the tissue as the tissue shrinks back to pre-operative size.
  • an embodiment of the invention has an end spacing configured to match the relative distance the needle needs to be retracted after the initial insertion in order to position the needle relative to a site, eliminating retraction prior to see placement, and allowing all needles to be inserted to the same depth in the patient, thus reducing implant time. [0030] It is further desired to shorten the time required for the preparation and implantation of a plurality of these elongated members.
  • some of the obj ectives of the present invention include providing an elongated member with seeds dispersed throughout, which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages and allows placement of the seeds in accurate positions to provide the desired interstitial radiation dose to the location derived from a preoperative dosimeter plan.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a delivery system for interstitial radiation therapy, which is faster and easier to use than prior art systems.
  • Another object of the present invention is a delivery system that causes a minimum of trauma to tissue.
  • a related obj ect is to have the ability to implant a plurality of these delivery systems at the same time.
  • another obj ect of the present invention is a delivery system that allows for control of the radiation dosage given the tissue.
  • Still further objects of the present invention are a delivery system that can be used and placed with precision, and that maintains the position of the implant after the implantation, until the bio-compatible material dissolves and the seeds have become inert.
  • the bio-compatible material is selected to absorb about when the half-life of the radioactive seeds is reached.
  • a further aspect is to have the implant be echogenic.
  • the delivery system comprises a substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member that is bio-absorbable in living tissue.
  • the member has a length that greatly exceeds its width or diameter.
  • the elongated member has a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed therein in a predetermined array.
  • the substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member comprises a single continuous monofilament element of bio-compatible material that has a plurality of seed sources molded therein.
  • the bio-compatible material can be preferably a bio- absorbable polymer or copolymer material that encapsulates the plurality of radioactive seeds.
  • a further embodiment of the invention is characterized as a substantially constant diameter solid elongated matrix member of a bio-absorbable polymer with seeds positioned therein at predetermined spacing along its length, whose diameter is a close fit to the needle lumen, thus preventing collapse as axial force is applied on the proximal end of the elongated matrix member.
  • the space between the seed sources is maintained throughout the insertion and expulsion of the elongated matrix member.
  • the diameter of the polymer between the seeds may be slightly reduced in diameter in relation to the overall diameter of the elongated matrix member, but is of sufficient diameter so as to not allow collapse of the matrix member within the needle lumen.
  • the present embodiment of the invention further allows for variation in any spacing between seeds, as the semi-rigid, deflecting elongate member could be produced under a doctor's prescription for each patient, with optimal seed distribution for a particular patients treatment program.
  • This one object of the invention is to provide an implant that can be custom made as specified by a prescription for an individual patient.
  • a related object is to provide a plurality of implants that can be easily implanted at the same time.
  • Figure 1 is an enlarged side view of an embodiment of the therapeutic implant of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a cross section of an embodiment of the therapeutic implant of the invention of Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the brachytherapy device including the implant of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 A shows a plurality of strand implants in accordance with the prior art.
  • Figure 4B depicts a plurality of strand implants of an embodiment of the invention with custom end spaces at the distal end of selected strand implants.
  • Figure 5A depicts needles containing strands of embodiments of the invention aligned with a template.
  • Figure 5B depicts the template of Figure 5 A with the custom strand implants positioned in the tissue of the patient.
  • Figure 5C depicts a top view of the embodiment of the invention as depicted in Figure 5B.
  • a substantially axially, semi-rigid and longitudinally flexible elongated member made of material, which is bio-absorbable in living tissue, is provided for insertion in tumors.
  • a plurality of radioactive seeds are encapsulated and positioned in a predetermined array in the member in the desired spaced relationships.
  • the seeds can be of various types having low energy and low half-life such as Iodine seeds, known as 1-125 seeds, consisting of a welded titanium capsule containing iodine 125 absorbed on a silver rod, or Palladium 103 seeds. Examples of radioactive seeds used to manufacture the therapeutic element appear in Table 1 below.
  • seeds can be manufactured using iridium 192, cesium 131, gold 198, yttrium 90 and phosphorus 32. Further radioactive isotopes used to manufacture seeds are not limited to these examples, but can include other sources of different types of radiation. In addition, it is to be understood that other types of seeds can be used. In particular, seeds such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,248,057, which patent is incorporated herein by reference and which is entitled "Absorbable Brachytherapy and Chemotherapy Delivery Devices and Methods", can be used with the present invention. These seeds include radiation delivery devices, drug delivery devices, and combinations of radiation and drug delivery devices in the form of beads, seeds, particles, rods, gels, and the like.
  • the substantially axially, semi-rigid, and longitudinally flexible elongated member may be made of any of the natural and/or synthetic bio- compatible and bio-absorbable materials. Natural and synthetic polymers and copolymers can be used.
  • bio-absorbable polymer materials are the polymers and copolymers of glycolide and lactide, polydioxanone and the like. Such polymeric materials are more fully described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,565,869; 3,636,956; 4,052,988 and European Patent Application No. 30822, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Specific examples of bio- absorbable polymeric materials that can be used to produce the substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member of an embodiment of the present invention are polymers made by ETHICON, Inc., Somerville, N.J., under the trademarks "MONOCRYL” and “MAXON,” which material is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Table 2 below provides examples of polymers (and manufacturers) suitable for use in producing embodiments the therapeutic member of the invention.
  • a further discussion of such biodegradable polymers can be found in an article by John C. Middleton and Arthur J. Tipton entitled “Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers as Medical Devices", published March 1998 in Medical Plastics and Bio-materials, which article is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the final hardness of the polymer of elongate member should preferably be in a range from 20 to 80 durometers, and, more preferably, in the range of 20-40 durometers.
  • the bio-absorbable material should preferably be absorbed in living tissue in a period of time of from about 70 to about 120 days, but can be manufactured to be absorbed anywhere in a range from 1 week to 1 year, depending on the therapeutic plan for each specific patient.
  • the bio-absorbable material is selected to absorb about when the half-life of the radioactive seeds is reached.
  • the member or strand is fashioned with a manufacturing method known as insert or compression molding.
  • the radioactive seeds are placed into a fixture that spaces the seeds at the appropriate intervals in a cavity that is shaped to the desired final dimensions of the elongated member. All the spacings can be of different lengths, if the preoperative therapeutic plan so specifies.
  • the synthetic polymer is introduced into the mold at a temperature that is above the melt point of the polymer. The polymer flows around the seeds within the cavity, surrounds the seeds and fills in the spaces between the seeds. After the mold has cooled, it is disassembled, and the finished elongated member is removed. Because the polymer flows at temperatures significantly greater than 250°F, the therapeutic element can easily be steam sterilized before implantation.
  • the elongated member encapsulating radioactive seeds may be fashioned using compression molding techniques. Compression molding forms the molded piece in a two part mold where the polymer material is placed within the cavities of the mold in a liquid state. The seeds are placed in position within the cavities filled with the polymer and the mold is closed and compressed, then cooled to form a piece that conforms to the shape of the closed cavity. [0060] The manufacturing process also can make the member echogenic.
  • air can be entrapped in the polymer material.
  • the mold is placed in a vacuum chamber and the air in the chamber is evacuated. This causes the entrapped air in the mold to come out of solution from the polymer, and as the mold cools, this air is entrapped within the cooling polymer in the form of minute bubbles suspended in the plastic.
  • Air is a strong reflector of ultrasound energy, since the inherent impedance of air is many times greater than body tissue.
  • the elongated member is introduced into the body and imaged with ultrasound, the elongated member is clearly visible in the resulting image, and is, thus, echogenic.
  • the resulting elongated member is now a single solid monofilament of the polymer with the seeds spaced within the monofilament and encapsulated at the appropriate intervals .
  • the member is generally very axially flexible such that it can be bent back upon itself in a circle without kinking. However, the member has sufficient column strength along its longitudinal axis so that the member can be urged out of a hollow needle without the member folding upon itself.
  • the intervals can be selected to be any distance or combination of distances that are optimal for the treatment plan of the patient.
  • FIG. 1 the therapeutic elongated element, member or matrix or strand 10 is displayed having the semi-rigid, radially flexible polymer 12 and the radioactive seeds 14.
  • the polymer fills the spacing segments 16 in a contiguous manner to fashion the total elongate member.
  • Figure 3 shows a side view of the brachytherapy device 20.
  • the needle 22 is shown partially broken away and has a sheath component 24, and is loaded with the therapeutic element or member 10.
  • the beveled end 26 of the needle 22 is plugged with a bio-compatible substance 28. The plug prevents fluids and tissue from entering the needle and coming in contact with the member 10 prior to the placement of the member or strand 10 adj acent the tumor.
  • the plug 28 can be made out of a bone wax or can be made of one of the bio-absorbable polymers or copolymers listed herein. Further, the plug can be the end of the member or strand 10 that is heated and reflowed after the strand or member is inserted into the needle. A stylet or stylus 30 is inserted into the needle until it meets the therapeutic element or member 10. Then, the needle 22 is inserted into the site and the therapeutic member 10 is gradually extruded from the needle via the static force of the stationary stylus 30, as the needle 22 is pulled back.
  • the present invention provides for an embodiment having an elongated member, which is comprised of a biodegradable polymer, which encapsulates a plurality of spaced radioactive therapeutic seeds.
  • the seeds can be spaced in custom manner so that each member or strand is designed for the particular patient. That is to say that the spacing between each seed pair in a strand or member can be different for each seed pair. Further, each individual strand can have an entirely different seed spacing pattern than the next strand or member. Characteristically, or typically, for a surgical procedure, up to twenty-five of such strands or members are used to encircle the organ or tumor that is affected.
  • such an arrangement provides for a strand or member that is stiff along its longitudinal axis. That is to say that the strand or member has column strength or stiffness while the strand or member is flexible in the direction which is radial or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, the strand or member in a preferred embodiment is able to bend back upon and touch itself, when formed in a characteristic length.
  • the strand or member can be made with the incorporation of drugs and/or hormones and/or other therapeutics, which are embedded in or formed in the polymer and/or seeds.
  • the embodiment of the invention can deliver not only radioactive seeds, but such therapeutic drugs, hormones and other therapeutic devices.
  • the strand or member can deliver heated seeds such as provided by ATI Medical of San Diego, California. These seeds can be preferably heated to from about six (6) degrees centigrade to about seventy (70) degrees centigrade after being inserted into a patient in a preferred embodiment.
  • ATI Medical is located at (www.ATImedical.com), and reference to such heated seeds is incorporated herein by reference.
  • seed types can be used with the present invention.
  • seeds which are made of radioactive or coiled wires can be embedded in the polymer and be within the spirit and scope of the invention. These seeds can be individual seeds, which are spaced within a polymer, or a continuous seed which extends the length of the strand or member.
  • the strand or member can be made echogenic by the incorporation of, for example, air bubbles 32 in the polymer spaces between the seeds, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3. These air bubbles or pockets can be formed in the polymer in ways identified above and other ways known to one of skill in the art.
  • the substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member allows controlled placement of the plurality of radioactive seeds that are encapsulated and positioned in a predetermined array in the member without migration of the individual radioactive seeds during the time the seeds are treating the tumor.
  • the normal tissue is spaced away from the seed surface by the thickness of the body of polymer, to decrease necrosis from a high local dose. 4.
  • the axial stiffness of the elongated member allows the elongated member to be urged out of the needle as the needle is withdrawn, without the member jamming in the needle, by collapsing or expanding as the needle is withdrawn from the tumor site.
  • the longitudinal flexibility of the elongated member allows locational accuracy to be maintained as the gland shrinks to pre-procedural size, as the swelling that occurs during tissue disruption and needle manipulation recedes.
  • brachytherapy treatment planning guides which are customized for each individual patient.
  • Such software is provided by Rossmed, which is located at Ross Medical, 7100, Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 160, Columbia, MD 21046.
  • This particular software which is incorporated herein by reference, is known as the Strata suite, which software helps physicians to develop and visualize low dose rate brachytherapy treatment plans for treating malignant tumors in human tissue.
  • the treatments entail the use of radioactive seed sources, which are implanted adj acent to the malignant tissue.
  • the Strata software uses imaging to create a three- dimensional reconstruction of the patient's anatomy. The software is able to plan the placement of the seeds within the target.
  • the radiation dose that is delivered to the target can be computerized and visualized using the software.
  • the software can then specify an optimal number of strands or members along with optimal seed dosages and spaces between seeds.
  • the loading plans so specified cannot be optimized by die physician in preparing the seed and spacer loads for the needles, as the spacers come in only predefined lengths.
  • the software can be used to prepare a prescription, which optimizes the number of members or strands, and placement and spacing of seeds for each of the strands or members. This optimization plan can then be sent to a manufacturing site.
  • an optimized strand or member can be created with the specified number of seeds and the specified distances between each seed pair.
  • the custom strand or member can be sent back to the physician for treatment of the patient.
  • radiation patterns can be optimally established for the treatment of each patient.
  • the preparation time for the physician is greatly diminished as the physician does not have to hand assemble and hand load the seeds and spacers into the needle.
  • each individual strand can be custom-manufactured in such a way that the placement of seeds coincides with the target tissue precisely, while maintaining the same depth of implantation for a plurality of strands. All a physician has to do is to implant each strand in its designated spot to the same depth (for example, all strands would be implanted flush again a tissue surface), and the seeds will be placed correctly within the treatment tissue. (In other words, no seeds will protrude beyond the boundaries of the treatment tissue.)
  • Fig.4A shows an exemplary pre-operative diagnostic plan created by the methods and software discussed above.
  • Each strand 401, 402, 403 and so on can have a different number of seeds and spacing between the seeds, and each strand typically have a seed proximate to the distal, or pointed, end. Needles numbered 1 through
  • Needle #1 for example, is retracted 1.00cm before the seed strand is implanted into the tissue.
  • needle #2 the needle need not be retracted before implantation because a seed is to be deposited at the 0.00cm depth.
  • the present embodiments of the invention provide for custom seed strands and a method to significantly shorten the implantation time.
  • the strands are of substantially uniform length, but with distal ends 41 of individual strands having customized end spacers so that the physician can implant each strand to the same depth, hi the diagrams, the distal ends are shaded only for clarity.
  • the distal ends could be made of the same polymeric material as the strand body. The spacings between the seeds, and the custom distal end spacing are provided in the strand in accordance with the methods presented above.
  • the physician need not be concerned about the depth of the implant as each needle is urged into the patient to the same depth and each strand would be implanted at that depth as the needle is pulled back leaving the strand in place. There is no need to identify the distal end of each strand by ultrasound or visual inspection, or to specially position each strand to a custom depth. There is no concern or need to retract a needle before implanting any strand. Accordingly, the elapse time for the surgical procedure is shortened with less exposure of the physician to the strand and less time that the patient must endure the procedure.
  • the strands are implanted into the patient according to a location map and an implantation plan. Each strand is implanted to the same depth.
  • the implantation map can be marked onto the patent or can be applied to a pliable material that is laid over the implant site. Implantation can also occur without such a map and in accordance to an implantation plan.
  • FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of the invention, which allows for multiple implantations of strands at once.
  • a plurality of treatment strands according to the invention 51 (as loaded into implantation needles 52, not shown) can be aligned and held in place by an exemplary device 53 that has a plurality of receptacles 54 for the needles to pass through.
  • Each custom-made strand, with custom-spaced seeds 51a and custom distal ends 51b is loaded into its individually designated receptacle.
  • the template having a substantially flat surface 53a on the bottom side, is maneuvered and positioned onto a tissue surface 55 of the patient Fig. 5B.
  • Said tissue surface 55 may be an outer epidermis of the patient if the procedure is non-surgical, or an inner dermis if the procedure is surgical.
  • all the loaded strands can be implanted at the same time to the same depth 56. As each needle is removed, the strand is left in place.
  • each strand has a custom spacer end there is no need for the physicians to withdraw any needle a specific amount as taught by the prior art, prior to the strand being dispensed from the needle. Accordingly, time is conserved during the implantation procedure.
  • the template is then removed.
  • the treating physician does not have to be concerned about variations in the implantation depth of each implant. Further, if multiple needles are injected at once, this method can substantially reduce the time needed for the procedure.
  • Subsequent rows of implants can be implanted by repeating the procedure outlined above. See Fig.

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  • Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Système et procédé d'administration de radiothérapie interstitielle. Ledit système comporte un tube allongé axialement rigide et longitudinalement souple constitué d'une matière qui est bio-absorbable dans les tissus vivants, et une pluralité de grains radioactifs dispersés selon une disposition prédéterminée dans le tube. Le système et le procédé selon la présente invention permettent en outre la personnalisation du tube sur la base d'une prescription. Les tubes peuvent comporter des éléments d'écartement terminaux personnalisés, ce qui permet la mise en place optimale des grains dans les tissus à traiter par l'implantation d'une pluralité de tubes à la même profondeur. Une pluralité de ces tubes peut être implantée simultanément à l'aide d'un dispositif de guidage.
EP04751898A 2003-05-13 2004-05-12 Systeme et procede d'administration de radiotherapie interstitielle a l'aide de tubes pour grains a elements d'ecartement terminaux personnalises Withdrawn EP1641514A2 (fr)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US46994003P 2003-05-13 2003-05-13
US10/619,928 US6997862B2 (en) 2003-05-13 2003-07-15 Delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy using seed strands with custom end spacing
PCT/US2004/014732 WO2004101026A2 (fr) 2003-05-13 2004-05-12 Systeme et procede d'administration de radiotherapie interstitielle a l'aide de tubes pour grains a elements d'ecartement terminaux personnalises

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EP1641514A2 true EP1641514A2 (fr) 2006-04-05

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EP04751898A Withdrawn EP1641514A2 (fr) 2003-05-13 2004-05-12 Systeme et procede d'administration de radiotherapie interstitielle a l'aide de tubes pour grains a elements d'ecartement terminaux personnalises

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US (3) US6997862B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP1641514A2 (fr)
AU (1) AU2004238342B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2530989A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004101026A2 (fr)

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US6997862B2 (en) 2006-02-14
WO2004101026A3 (fr) 2005-04-07
US7736294B2 (en) 2010-06-15
WO2004101026A2 (fr) 2004-11-25
CA2530989A1 (fr) 2004-11-25
US20060089520A1 (en) 2006-04-27
AU2004238342B2 (en) 2010-07-22
US7736295B2 (en) 2010-06-15
US20040230087A1 (en) 2004-11-18
US20060074270A1 (en) 2006-04-06
AU2004238342A1 (en) 2004-11-25

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